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Primary Science · Year 3Chapter 6 · Skeletons and muscles
Year 3 Science · Skeletons and muscles · Lesson 6.2

Year 3 Science: Bones that protect the body

Part of the Year 3 Science skeletons and muscles chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

6.2

Bones that protect the body

Year 3
A2: some bones protect soft parts, such as the brain, the heart and the lungs
Story. Amira and Mo are playing on the field. Amira taps her head and says, “My skull is hard, so it keeps my brain safe.” Mo says, “My ribs are like a cage around my heart and my lungs.” Mr Patel says, “Let’s find them on a skeleton.”

Some bones have a special job: they protect the soft parts of the body. Soft parts, such as the brain, the heart and the lungs, can be easily damaged. The bones around them act like a shield.

The picture shows a skeleton from the front. The numbered bones have these jobs:

Picture numberBoneWhat it does
1skullprotects the brain
2backbonesupports the body and protects the spinal cord
3ribsprotect the heart and the lungs
4upper arm bonea bone that the muscles of the arm pull on to move it
5pelvissupports the body and protects some organs in the lower body
6thigh bonesupports the body and helps the leg to move

Some bones protect, and others support the body and help it to move. The upper arm bone and the thigh bone are mainly for support and movement.

123456
A skeleton seen from the front. 1 skull, 2 backbone, 3 ribs, 4 upper arm bone, 5 pelvis, 6 thigh bone.

Key ideas

  • The skull protects the brain.
  • The ribs protect the heart and the lungs.
  • The backbone supports the body and protects the spinal cord, a thick cord of nerves.
  • Some bones protect, and others support the body and help it move.
Worked example 6.2.1
Which bone protects the brain? Write the bone.

Method. Think about the hard case around the brain.

  1. Read the table. The skull protects the brain.
    skull
  2. Name the bone. So the bone is the skull.
    skull
  3. Write the answer.
    skull

Check. The skull is the hard case around the brain. ✓

Worked example 6.2.2
Which bones protect the heart and the lungs? Write the bones.

Method. Think about the bones that curve round the chest.

  1. Read the table. The ribs protect the heart and the lungs.
    ribs
  2. Name the bones. So the bones are the ribs.
    ribs
  3. Write the answer.
    ribs

Check. The ribs make a cage around the heart and the lungs. ✓

Worked example 6.2.3
Look at the picture. Which number shows the backbone? Write the number.
123456

Method. Find the backbone in the picture.

  1. Find the backbone. The backbone runs down the middle of the back.
    backbone
  2. Read the number. The number beside the backbone is 2.
    2
  3. Write the answer.
    2

Check. Number 2 is the backbone in the table. ✓

Watch out

Watch out: a bone can protect one part, but not others. The ribs protect the heart and the lungs, but they do not protect the brain. Each bone has its own job.

Try it at home or school (with a grown-up). With a grown-up, sit still. Put your hands gently on the sides of your ribs, below your arms. Breathe in slowly, then out. Feel your ribs move a little. Stop if you feel unwell.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “Which bone protects your brain? Why would a brain need a hard cover?” Let your child point to the bones on their own body that they can reach.

Exercise 6B  Bones that protect the body

1
FWhich soft part of the body does the skull protect? Write the soft part.
2
FWhich bones protect the heart and the lungs? Write the bones.
3
FLook at the picture. Which number shows the backbone? Write the number.
123456
4
FWhich bone protects the spinal cord? Write the bone.
5
FLook at the picture. Which number shows the thigh bone? Write the number.
123456
6
FFill in the gaps.
(a)The ___ protects the brain.
(b)The ___ protect the heart and the lungs.
(c)The backbone protects the ___ cord.
7
FWhich soft part is protected by the ribs? Write heart or lungs.
8
FWrite one soft part of the body that needs protecting.
9
PSPriya says the thigh bone protects the lungs. Is Priya right? Write no or yes.
10
PSAli wears a hard helmet when he rides his bike. Which bone does the helmet copy the job of? Write the bone.
11
PSMo says the backbone has no job apart from protecting the spinal cord. Is Mo right? Write no or yes, and give one reason.
12
PSWorking scientifically. Plan a way to find out which bone protects the lungs. Use the table in this section, and write one step.
13
RExplain why the brain needs the skull. Write one sentence.

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